New Baldwin L Advice

[Farrell]

Thanks for the tidbits Ron. Rotary cut maple for bridge eigh? Like rotary
cut maple for the supply-house pinblocks. I dunno, but I wonder what any
types of strength testing has been done on rotary cut (obviously kinda flat
sawn and then bent flat) and then laminated VS quarter sawn and laminated.
Just seems like you gotta loose a lot of the wood properties when you unwind
a tree and squish it flat like that. I mean, you can chop it up and make
paper out of it, but that doesn't necessarily make for a good bridge or pin
block.

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Nossaman" <RNossaman@KSCABLE.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 10, 2001 3:24 PM
Subject: Re: New Baldwin L Advice


> >In addition to what you find to be required prep, I have the following
> >specific questions:
>
> This doesn't necessarily represent a cross section, because I've only seen
> one new L since the latest round of improvements were made. It needed, and
> still needs, regulation. The ribs are mortised into the rim, and the
killer
> octave is MUCH improved - quite acceptable, unlike virtually all the other
> new Ls I've heard for the last five years or so. The plate webbing holes
> around the tuning pins is drilled out bigger for clearance of the tuning
> pin, and I didn't see (or feel) a single pin riding the plate. In my
> opinion, that alone greatly improves the pin feel when tuning. The pin
> torque ranges were as usual.
>
>
> >How is the pinblock attached? Screwed/doweled/mortised to rim?
Glued/doweled
> >to stretcher?
>
> Nope/no/uh-uh. Nah/not. Let down the string tension, disconnect from
bridge
> pins, pull lag bolts, and the strung plate will lift right out. And no, I
> don't consider that by itself to be a design or construction detriment or
> defect.
>
>
> >Is the satin ebony lacquer?
>
> Don't know.
>
>
> >Is it true that these pianos now have Renner hammers? Would these be
Renner
> >Blue?
>
> I'm told Renner. Ask Roger about the details. He gets the brochures.
>
>
> >What is factory spec touchweight?
>
> Don't know, but I'd be curious to know how close the delivered piano is to
> it, if you find out.
>
>
> >Is the Baldwin soundboard radius crowned?
>
> Yes, at a 72' radius. Whatever that's worth.
>
>
> >I read that the bridges are vertically laminated maple. Is there a
> >quartersawn bridgecap?
>
> No cap. The bridges are vertically laminated from rotary cut maple, and
> machine notched. It seems to be a good bridge overall.
>
>
> >Any info regarding these questions will be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks
> >
> >Terry Farrell
>
> Ron N
>